I am pleased to introduce to you, the ECYI and the general public, all of the Candidates for the Youth Leadership Team! There are 21 highly qualified and diverse Candidates, from 19 different countries around the world. Seven are female and 14 are male. From this group, our YLT of 11 youth will be selected based on your votes and gender and geographic balance. This opens our "Town Hall Meeting and Voting Week," which ends precisely at midnight (CET) on Sunday 23 September. The new YLT will be announced soon thereafter.

This week is a chance for you, the Voters, to get to know your regional Candidates better: read their Candidate Statements and CVs, view the Candidates' photos, and, most importantly, ask them questions - either individually or as a regional group - by posting comments at the bottom of the appropriate blog entry. Please list your name and country in all comments. Candidates will respond to your questions, or risk losing your vote!

Within each region - when possible - the male/female pair of Candidates, one from each sub-region, with the highest combined number of votes will be chosen as the regional YLT Representatives. Also, remember that the 2 regions with the highest number of overall votes (and at least 3 Candidates) will be rewarded with an additional Representative.

So Voters: learn about the Candidates, engage in dialog with them, and cast your vote anytime before midnight (CET) on Sunday 23 September by sending an e-mail to dominic [@] earthcharterinaction.org. Each eligible ECYI Member may cast one vote based on their country of origin or residence. Late votes will not be accepted. Your vote e-mail must:

* include your full name, country, and date of birth,
* include the full name of the Candidate who has earned your vote, and
* have "[Your Region] YLT Vote" in the subject line.

If you have not yet filled out the ECYI Membership Application, it MUST accompany your vote e-mail in order for it to be considered.

Please click on your region, below, to engage with your regional Candidates:

* Africa and the Middle East: 8 Candidates
* Asia and the Pacific: 5 Candidates
* Europe and Central Asia: 4 Candidates
* Latin America and the Caribbean: 3 Candidates
* North America: 1 Candidate

Let the Town Hall Meeting and Voting begin!

Dominic Stucker
International Youth Coordinator